Shall We Dance?- A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction

Chapter 2

The following afternoon, Marinette ran across the street, breathing hard. An akuma attack during the earlier part of the day resulted in the later classes being cancelled which was fantastic because it was a rather stubborn creature who called himself Sewer Rat and it had taken her and Chat Noir nearly three hours to catch him. She was exhausted and used the free time to nap. Of course, this was a double edged sword as she basically pulled a her and was thus late to meeting up with her friends. All three were waiting for her at the front of the stairs of the school as she came running up, panting.

"S-sorry," she gasped.

"Don't worry about it. We weren't waiting too long," Alya teased, "I think that's the shortest wait time we've ever had with you."

"Ha-ha. You're hilarious."

"Don't you know it? Anyway, shall we get going? Lead the way Mari." Alya stood up from her seat on the stairs and brushed off her pants. Nino wrapped an arm around her waist after she was done. Mari straightened herself from her doubled over position and took a steadying breath. She pulled out her cellphone.

"There's a new fabric shop on the other side of the city I've been wanting to visit. I figured now's a good time as any. The metro will be the fastest way to get there. We can also go to this little bistro over there if we're out later than expected."

All agreed that it was a good plan and they set off for the underground train system in high spirits. Mari kept eyeing Alya though as she walked arm-in-arm with Nino; she kept suspiciously eyeing her and giggling about something which meant that the girl was planning and this meant that Marinette was probably not going to enjoy whatever was about to happen. She pursed her lips. This worried expression then caused Adrien to grow concerned. He asked her about it and true to form, she stumbled over what she was saying which left him feeling even more confused. The weather was nice. The sun was shining without many clouds in the way but it couldn't have been more than twenty-two degrees Celsius. A little high for the fall and oncoming winter but better than freezing. Nino suggested that if it kept up, they should totally have a picnic in the park for lunch with Marinette's parents providing the food of course. Adrien agreed rather rapidly. This elicited a giggle and a promise to talk to her parents about it later this week.

The metro wasn't too crowded. There were a good number of people on the platform but the rush hour hadn't happened yet. A feeling of relief ran through the group. All had at one point experienced that horror and were extremely happy that they were managing to avoid it.

A box-shaped engine, decorated in white and green that were both faded with time, pulled into the station with a hiss. The doors slid open and groups of people got off before the new group stepped in. Marinette's toe caught on the line between platform and train and she pitched forward. Adrien, standing behind her, caught her arm before she could kiss train floor.

"Th-thanks," she mumbled.

"No problem. Just be careful Marinette. It'd be bad if the person we're shopping for got injured. I don't think you want any of us picking out fabric for you."

"Speak for yourself Agreste," Alya cut in, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I happen to know exactly what my girl is looking for and besides, I know what I want to wear." Mari smirked.

"For your dress. Did you forget I'm going too?" The dark skinned girl narrowed her eyes.

"You haven't shown me your dress so how would I know?"

"Exactly." The warning bell went off for the train. The doors were beginning to hiss shut as the train got ready to take off down the line.

It was at this exact moment that Marinette learned what Alya had been giggling about earlier. In the span of a second, the following events occurred: Alya nodded to Nino and they both reached out, pushing Adrien into her, and both of them into the closing door. It shut with a subtle thud as they landed with a not so subtle one on the ground; Mari released a grunt. Their position was rather compromising. Both faces flashed bright red as he scrambled first to get up and then offer her a hand up. She returned to normal the higher she rose. Then, anger flashed in her eyes and she ran to the door, pressing her face against the window. Alya and Nino stood there. She was smiling and waving. He shrugged and pointed to her as if to say, "Listen, not my idea but I do love her and fear for my life when she tells me to do something. Wacky plans included." Mari narrowed her eyes at both of them as they began to shrink away and were replaced with brick. Adrien rubbed the back of her neck.